Chapter 35: The Ancestral Golden Tiger

  The golden tiger, also weighs 100 grams. To know that at that time, gold was over a hundred yuan per gram. This one 100-gram golden tiger, at least worth more than ten thousand yuan. That was in 1988, and everyone should be clear about what the concept of ten thousand yuan meant back then. It can be said that the millionaire at that time was not inferior to today's multimillionaire.

  The entire Shima Village has only twenty or thirty households, and even if the cost is evenly distributed, each household would have to pay more than 3,000 to 4,000 yuan. For the villagers of Shima Village, 3,000 to 4,000 yuan is equivalent to several years' income. Therefore, when Zhu Shan Lao Dao mentioned that he needed Jin Hu, the villagers present fell silent and stopped talking.

  Jin Hu's ability to drive out ghosts has yet to be seen, so it's not good to jump to conclusions. However, when Zhu Shan Lao Dao asked for Jin Hu, that was absolutely not a casual remark. Zhu Shan Lao Dao is very greedy for wealth, but when it comes to pricing, he is extremely rational. In other words, if the people of Shi Ma Village couldn't produce Jin Hu, he would never have mentioned the matter of Jin Hu.

  Zhu Shan Lao Dao knew that in Shi Ma Village, a golden tiger was hidden, and the golden tiger was in Bo Da Wa's home. The golden tiger was the heirloom of the Bo family, passed down for seven or eight generations, brought out from the palace by the ancestors of the Bo family.

  It is said that the ancestors of the Bai family were originally cooks in the palace, and after stealing the golden tiger in the palace, they escaped and hid in Shimavillage.

  Because they were afraid of being caught by government officials, Bai's ancestors never showed the golden tiger to anyone, and it was passed down from generation to generation like this.

  Of course, the Bai family had a golden tiger, but it was just a legend, because the people of Shi Ma Village had never seen that golden tiger. The old Taoist of Zhu Shan was certain that the golden tiger was with Bai Dawang because Bai Dawang was the eldest son of the Bai family. According to rural customs, this family heirloom would definitely be handed over to the eldest son for safekeeping.

  Seeing that the villagers didn't say a word, Zhu Shan Lao Dao took the initiative to speak up. "If there's no Golden Tiger, I have no other way either. Wait until you're ready with the Golden Tiger and then come find me again!"

  The old Taoist of Bamboo Mountain finished speaking and turned around to leave.

  The second day after Zhangshan Laodao left, Bai Dawawa's son Bai Qiang, who was about my age, suddenly developed a high fever. Bai Dawawa carried his son to the hospital in town, where the doctor gave Bai Qiang medicine and an IV drip.

  But after Ba Qiang finished taking the medicine prescribed by the doctor, his high fever still didn't subside. The villagers couldn't help but associate this with the "Exterminating Wife" when the medicine didn't work.

  The only person in the village who can deal with the exterminating witch is Zhushan Old Dao. Therefore, for his own precious son, Bo Dawa had to go and invite Zhushan Old Dao.

  When it comes to saving people, whether they are poor or rich, as long as they find Bamboo Mountain Taoist, he will not refuse. When encountering the poor, Bamboo Mountain Taoist charges a little less; when encountering the rich, Bamboo Mountain Taoist charges a bit more. In short, whether it's the poor or the rich, that's all money to be made.

  The Bai family is neither rich nor poor, and for the old Taoist of Zhushan, it can be considered a relatively ideal customer. Helping the Bai family to drive away disasters can earn at least two or three times more money than in those poor families.

  After receiving money from Bo Dawa, Master Zhushan went to Bo Dawa's home. After seeing Bo Qiang, Master Zhushan returned the money he had just received from Bo Dawa to him.

  "The children in your family were harmed by the vengeful spirits released by the exterminating witch. Even if I perform a ritual, I can only temporarily drive away those vengeful spirits, but they will soon return," said Zhangshan Old Dao.

  Bai Dawa knew that Zhu Shan Lao Dao's words meant he wanted the golden tiger from his family. However, Bai Dawa was a clever person and wouldn't easily believe Zhu Shan Lao Dao. Therefore, Bai Dawa definitely wouldn't hand over the golden tiger to Zhu Shan Lao Dao so easily. The golden tiger had been passed down in the Bai family for several generations, and if it were lost under Bai Dawa's care, he would become a sinner of the Bai family for eternity.

  Since the old Taoist of Bamboo Mountain said he could use his skills to drive away those evil spirits, Bo Dawa thought he'd give it a try and see if what the old Taoist said was true. In Bo Dawa's view, even if it only temporarily drove away those evil spirits, that would at least temporarily alleviate some of his son Bo Qiang's suffering!

  Thinking of this, Bo Dawa took the money that Zhu Shan Lao Dao had just returned and stuffed it back into Zhu Shan Lao Dao's hands. "Master, please help my family's Bo Qiang, even if it's just temporarily driving away those wild ghosts, that would be fine!" Bo Dawa begged Zhu Shan Lao Dao.

  Even if a mosquito is small, it's still flesh! Since Bai Dawa insisted on giving it to him, Zhu Shan Lao Dao couldn't decline anymore. "That wild ghost is formidable, I can only control it for three days with my magic," said Zhu Shan Lao Dao.

  "Three days will do! I'm begging you, Daozhang, please help my son. If it can be managed for three days, then just three days!" said Ba Dawawa.

  Bai Dawa finished speaking, and Zhu Shan Lao Dao had him bring incense, candles, and paper money. Then he set up an altar to perform a ritual. After completing the ritual, a wisp of black smoke floated out of Bai Qiang's nostrils. As the black smoke dissipated, Bai Qiang's face, which had been bright red due to his fever, slowly returned to its normal color.

  "I've already told you, this method can only protect your son for three days. Within those three days, that evil spirit will absolutely not be able to get close to your son's body. However, after the three days are up, if the evil spirit released by the Exterminating Grandma still wants to cause trouble for your son, then I'll also be powerless." said Zhangshan Old Dao.

  After saying this, Zhangshan Lao Dao left.

  As expected, just as Zhangshan Lao Dao said, three days had passed and Bo Dawang's son Bo Qiang started to get a fever again. This time, Bo Qiang's fever was even worse than the last time.

  Having had the experience last time, Ba Dawei didn't take his son Ba Qiang to the town hospital again, but instead went to Zhushan Temple and invited the old Taoist priest of Zhushan.

  Before this time, Zhushan Laodao told Baida Wa that because the last time they did the ritual and drove out a ghost, this time's ghost would be even more severe. Therefore, even if they do the ritual this time, it will only work for two days at most, not three.

  Being able to manage for two days is already two days, Ba Dawawa had no choice but to grit her teeth and hand over the money to Zhu Shan Lao Dao.

  After going back and forth several times, Bo Dawei really couldn't take out any more money, but those evil spirits didn't let go of his son Bo Qiang, instead they possessed him once again.

  At this time, in order to ask Zhu Shan Lao Dao to perform a ritual for her son Bai Qiang, Bai Dawa had already sold everything in the house that could be sold. Except for the house they lived in, there was nothing left to sell.

  Nowadays, Ba Da Wa has been forced to a dead end. The only choice for Ba Da Wa is to take out the family heirloom, which is the golden tiger, and let Zhu Shan Lao Dao perform the ritual.

  "Master Tao, my family has nothing left now, everything that can be sold has been sold. Can you think of a way to make that fierce ghost never come to my house again?" Bai Dawei begged to Zhu Shan Lao Dao.

  Zhu Shan Lao Dao knew that Bo Dai Wa was now at the end of his rope, with no way out. If he just gave him a little more pressure, Bo Dai Wa would definitely take out the Golden Tiger.

  "I'm also helpless! Didn't I say it last time? To thoroughly subdue the ghosts of the exterminated family, there are only two ways. One is to raise a tiger, and the other is to use a golden tiger." said Zhangshan Old Dao.

  As soon as Zhang Shan mentioned Jin Hu, Bo Daiwa immediately became a bit stiff, and it was clear that he had become somewhat vigilant.

  Bai Dawa's reaction was naturally seen by Zhu Shan Lao Dao, he knew what Bai Dawa was thinking.

  "If you can find the Golden Tiger, just bury it under the ground in the center of your house's main hall, and I'll perform a ritual to make the Golden Tiger run around your house. In that way, the evil spirit won't be able to do any harm in your house again," said Zhangshan Old Dao.

  "What, buried under my family's ancestral hall?" Bo Da Wa couldn't believe his ears. Buried under his own family's ancestral hall meant that the Golden Tiger was still in his own home, and it was still his family's property! That way, he hadn't let the Bo family's heirloom be lost after all!

  Thinking of this, Bo Da Wa immediately started to regret. Should have asked clearly how that Golden Tiger was used earlier, and wouldn't have wasted so much money for nothing!

  At first, Bo Dawa didn't mention the matter of Jin Hu at all. It was because last time he heard Zhu Shan Lao Dao say that they were going to bury Jin Hu under the Stone Horse Temple. The Stone Horse Temple is a public property of the village, and if you bury Jin Hu in the Stone Horse Temple, isn't it equivalent to saying that Jin Hu is being offered to the village? In that case, even if Bo Dawa was acting out of good intentions, he would still be bound to gain a reputation as a prodigal son.

  Now it's fine, Golden Tiger doesn't need to leave the Bai family anymore. It only needs to be buried in the main hall of its own home, and the evil spirit on Bai Qiang's body can be driven out.

  "To be honest with you, Master, I have a family heirloom, a golden tiger. I don't know if it's useful or not?" said Bai Dawei timidly.

  "What? Your family has a Golden Tiger, why didn't you say so earlier? If you had said it earlier, your son would have been cured long ago and wouldn't have wasted all that money." said Zhangshan Lao.

  Zhu Shan Lao Dao's words have a bit of a salt-in-the-wound tone, and also contain a warning to Bai Dawa. Aren't you trying to guard the Golden Tiger? Then just keep guarding it! Now look, aren't they all out already?

  Bo Da Wa was speechless for a moment and did not respond to Zhu Shan Lao Dao's words.

  "Hurry up and bring it here!" said Zhang Shan Lao Dao.

  As soon as Zhang Shan Lao Dao finished speaking, Bo Dai Wa hastily ran into the inner room and took out the golden tiger.

  That golden tiger, packed in a sandalwood box, under the golden tiger, padded with golden yellow satin. Although the satin looks a bit old, it can still be seen that it is a top-grade product.

  "I know you're afraid I'll take the Golden Tiger from you, so here's what we'll do: you hold onto it yourself, and I won't touch it. Then have your wife dig a hole right here in this spot." Zhushan Lao Dao said, pointing to the ground in the center of the main hall.

  Zhu Shan Old Way said this, the purpose is very simple, that is to clearly tell Bai Dawa, he Bai Dawa thought too much, Zhu Shan Old Way will not have ideas about his family's Golden Tiger.